The ‘Table for One’ Guide to Cyber Monday

For foodies, Cyber Monday is a great opportunity to buy just about anything gourmet-related, from meats to cheeses, pizzas to pies and soup to nuts (literally). Most big names in mail-order goodies (and plenty of smaller ones) are offering deals of all kinds, with some specials extended beyond Monday. With that in mind, here’s our second annual guide to some foodie favorites — just in time for the big shopping day. Prices quoted are before any deals or coupons are applied and do not include shipping. (And if there’s a Cyber Monday deal that requires a code, we’ve provided it; otherwise, any available offers should be clearly indicated on the site.)

Meat by mail: The mail-order steak business has gotten very crowded of late. Lobel’s, a legendary New York butcher, is still our favorite, especially because it ships its beef fresh, not frozen. But a strong new contender is Suzy Sirloin, the brainchild of Suzanne Strassburger, a New Yorker whose family has been delivering prime and aged beef to steakhouses around the country. The Suzy Sirloin line is aimed for the gourmet-savvy mass market, which is to say the beef is choice (the grade below prime), but all-natural and hormone and antibiotic-free. All we can say is that it’s beef that tastes like honest-to-goodness beef, available in a variety of packages (the “Beautiful Beef!” for $169 includes a good assortment of steaks and ground items). We love their lamb sliders, too (they’re offered as part of the “Kids Cuts” package).

Folsom + Associates

Lobel’s St. Louis-style ribs

Ribs times two: Speaking of Lobel’s, we were pleased to learn they’ve gone into the ribs business, too. And the New York beef biggies have aced St. Louis-style ribs ($37.98 for a 1.75-lb. rack) – the meaty spare ribs (as opposed to baby backs) have a perfectly smoky flavor and nice hint of spice; the pinkish color also tells you they’ve spent real time in the smoker. But another great source for ribs is Goldbely, which calls itself as a “curated marketplace of great gourmet food” from around the country and which offers the justly famed dry-rubbed baby backs from Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous in Memphis (two slabs for $99); these are ribs with a real kick to them, thanks to a spice mix that blends lots of flavors (fiery, sweet, aromatic) into a telling whole.

The big beef (and ham):Snake River Farms specializes in Wagyu beef – the American equivalent of Japan’s renowned Kobe. What makes the company extra-special is some of the heftier cuts and roasts it offers by mail, such as the impressive-looking boneless ribeye roast ($149-$199) – a piece of meat tailor-made for the holiday table. But if ham is slated for your table, you can’t do much better than the ones from Edwards, particularly the bone-in, hickory-smoked Virginia country hams ($109.95-$145.95). They arrive fully cooked, but a turn in the oven will give them a real depth of flavor (plus, the heating allows that signature brown-sugar glaze to caramelize beautifully).

Topping it off: How do you make a better burger? Or a better ice-cream sundae? It’s all about the toppings. When it comes to burgers, Terrapin Ridge Farms offers a Gourmet Burger Connoisseur Box Set ($22.95) that includes such sophisticated ketchup alternatives as Hot Pickled Pepper Burger Topper and a Bleu Cheese Sauce (our favorite). When it comes to ice cream, Spoonable, which bills itself as “Brooklyn’s Saucy Caramel” (the dessert brand is from New York’s borough of all things artisan and edible), has a Holiday Sampler ($15) that includes mini jars of some very exotic caramel sauces – flavored with sesame and chiles, among other ingredients.

A taste of Texas: Houston-based barbecue chain/gourmet purveyor Goode Co. likes to put a big state in a compact box – a Pure Texas box ($42.95), that is. It comes with its Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie (a version that’s indeed chock full of pecans), two sample-sized bags of pecans and a miniature Texas flag – just so you can wave away and celebrate your inner cowboy. Become a Goode Co. fan on Facebook to learn more about the company’s Cyber Monday deals, which will change by the hour.

A taste of New England: Just as with steaks, we’ve lost count how many gourmet brands are going up against each other in the live-lobsters-from-New England business. But lately, we’ve become interested in these companies’ other offerings. GetMaineLobster.com has about the best Maine Clam Chowdah ($30 per quart and, yes, that’s how they spell it) we’ve ever tried. LobsterAnywhere.com has baked stuffed lobster tails ($44-$229) that take a good thing and make it even better. And Hancock Gourmet Lobster, available through Goldbely, offers a lobster mac ‘n’ cheese casserole ($31.95-$62.95) that takes comfort food to elegant heights.

Leapfrog

Callie’s Carolina Grits

A taste of Charleston: When Charleston caterer Callie White decided to go into the retail business in 2005, the world finally got a taste of what until then had been a locals-only secret. We’re talking biscuits with lots of flavorful embellishments – varieties range from black pepper to cinnamon. But we love Callie’s Biscuits as much for its other fare, including the best pimento cheese spread we’ve ever had (two containers for $19.90) and Carolina Grits ($9.95) that explode with the flavor of real stone-ground corn.

A taste of Philly: OK, Philly may be best known for its cheese steaks, but we’re talking Philly-made chocolate. The Pennsylvania General Store has put together an electric and intriguing Phllly Dark Chocolate Bar Sampler ($29.99) that includes items from such locally acclaimed chocolatiers as John & Kira, Eclat and Lore. We’re telling you: Brooklyn has nothing on these guys.

Ice cream to go: As in the frozen stuff sent by mail, but isn’t that what they invented dry ice for? Some of the best we’ve found in the ice cream-to-go category comes from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, a Columbus, Ohio-based purveyor whose “Flavors from Earth” holiday collection ($72) includes such offbeat-but-seasonal-minded selections as Sweet Potato with Torched Marshmallows and Boozy Eggnog. Looking for something more traditional? FoodyDirect is offering frozen custard from Anderson’s, a Buffalo, N.Y. favorite (a four-pack runs $49) – the chocolate is about the most densely delicious custard we’ve come across.

Bacon in all its forms: For the bacon traditionalist, you can hardly go wrong with ordering from Nueske’s, a worthy name name in the world of all things pork and smoked. Try the Smoked Meat Lover’s Gift Box ($49.95), which includes applewood smoked bacon (both traditional and Canadian-style), along with a host of other treats (sausage, pork chops, sliced beef, etc.). But if you want to push the bacon envelope, may we suggest a bacon “schnecken” (a German-style cinnamon roll) from Cincinnati’s Queen City Cookies? The sweet-meets-salty treat ($13.99) is like a breakfast of pancakes and bacon in coffee-cake form; the company offers more traditional schnecken as well. (To take advantage of a Cyber Monday special of free shipping, put MON in checkout code.)

The perfect panettone: When Michigan-based gourmet market-turned-catalog Zingerman’s offers a product, it’s almost guaranteed to be exemplary and one-of-a-kind. Such is the case with its Panettone Balsamico ($85) – it’s the classic Italian holiday cake with a singular twist: pockets of balsamic “cream” are spread throughout, as in balsamic vinegar. There’s a certain oddball sourness to the thing, but one that makes you rethink the normally ho-hum, breadlike treat.

The gold-standard of olive oils: Speaking of Italian foodstuffs taken to extremes, what about an extra virgin olive oil with edible gold flakes added to it? Lucini offers such an item ($39). Granted, the gold doesn’t add any flavor to the high-quality oil, but it makes it all the more festive in appearance.

Cheese, glorious cheese: Two great names in cheese-by-mail have upped their game for the holidays. New York’s legendary Murray’s shop has a “New Yorker” crate ($125) that includes two first-rate made-in-the-Empire State cheeses, plus such other goodies as a slate cheese board and Brooklyn-made chocolate (from Mast Brothers). On the other side of the country, San Francisco-based Cowgirl Creamery offers its “Cowgirl Deluxe” crate ($110) with four award-winning organic cheeses, packaged with olive oil and sea salt crackers. And if you’re looking for something to pair with all that cheese, the best suggestion we can offer is Virginia Chutney Co.’s “Chutney and Spice Box” package – it comes not just with cheese-friendly chutneys, but also such other cheese-worthy accompaniments as dried figs, roasted almonds and candied ginger. Beautiful packaging, too.

Two spots of tea: Just as with cheese, there are two big names in tea to consider – and both offer holiday-minded gifts. Tea Forte has a Winter Spice Gift Set ($29) that includes a red café cup, perfect for brewing a quick cuppa (it’s more like a mini teapot with its own lid), and 10 of the brand’s signature pyramid-shaped tea infusers (an upscale version of your standard tea bag) in such seasonal flavors as Winter Chai and Sweet Ginger Plum. Republic of Tea has a Two Tin Holiday Gift ($25.95) that combines two warming varieties – Comfort and Joy Black Tea and Dream by the Fire Rooibos Tea.

5W Public Relations

Excalibur’s “camouflage” deydrator

Time for some kitchen aid: If you’re looking for a bigger ticket item for the cook who thinks they already have everything, may we suggest the Qooq? It’s a new-to-the-market tablet device ($399), created with cooking in mind – it comes preloaded with more than 1,000 exclusive recipes (with the ability to purchase more), allows users to create shopping lists and weekly menus and has a built-in video/MP3 player (hey, you’ve got to listen to something while you’re preparing all that food). Of course, some would rather preserve their food than merely cook it – in that case, the Excalibur series of dehydrators might be the right call. These are sturdy, extra-large machines ($299.95-$499.99) that are much more cut out for the task than a lot of the budget-minded models on the market. And for the hunter crowd, Excalibur even offers a “camouflage” model. Finally, if all that standing around and cooking/preserving is taking a toll on the feet and legs, consider a GelPro mat (models start at $59.95) – it makes doing anything in the kitchen all the more comfortable.

Sometimes you feel like a nut: And there are indeed lots of “nutty” options out there. For traditional nut and dried fruit gifts, we’re big on Superior Nut Company, which sources the fattest cashews we’ve ever seen; the Superior Trio Gift Tray ($36.95), with the aforementioned cashews plus pistachios and almonds, is one of many fine gift options. If you want your nuts (and fruits) in an energy-style bar, the KIND bars are our pick; for the holidays, KIND is partnering with celebrities and packaging its products in 20-bar “cubes” ($42.95), with some of the proceeds supporting a variety of charities. And if you prefer your nuts in candy form, the Oliver Pecan Co. makes a brittle out of its famed pecans – a Spicy Pecan Beer Brittle ($20.99) using a Texas craft beer, to be exact.

Beer…it’s not just for drinking anymore: Speaking of beer, our final pick is another brew-centric one. But we’re not talking the kind of beer you drink…or eat. Instead, it’s a beer soap – yes, beer so good you can take a bath with it — that comes courtesy of Monastery Greetings, a catalog that specializes in all things sourced from monasteries. The Chimay Beer Soap ($8.95) is said to have “a very pleasant natural aroma.” Oh, and if you want one another monk-made item, there’s always that holiday standby: fruitcake. Monastery offers more than a half-dozen varieties.

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.